This Movie is Rated – PG13 For Language and Sexual Content
This movie is all about over coming obstacles in order to live your dreams. Jess (Parminder Nagra) is an Indian girl from a very traditional family. She has just completed her A-levels and will be going to university soon. Her parents want her to become a solicitor. However, what she really loves to do is play football (soccer for us Americans).
Now that her older sister, Pinky, is engaged Jess’s parents think that the time for playing games has passed. It’s time for Jess to grow up, learn to cook proper Indian food and find a nice Indian boy of her own. Needless to say, she isn’t exactly enthusiastic about this plan.
Jules (Keira Knightley) is a British girl, who loves football. She plays on the amateur girl’s team at a local club. Jules has short hair and prefers to dress in jeans and jerseys or t-shirts. Looking rather tomboyish, much to her mother’s dismay. Her dad is very supportive of her playing football and practices with her. Her mom wants nothing more than to get Jules to wear girly clothes and meet a nice boy.
Joe (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) is the coach for the girl’s football team. He used to play on the men’s team until he busted up his knee and had to give up playing. He and Jules have known each other for a while now. She used to watch him play and would always complain about there not being a girl’s team for her to play on. Once he could no longer play himself, he decided he would give a girl’s team a go.
One day Jules see Jess playing football in the park with a bunch of guys. Jess more than holds her own against them and Jules is impressed by what she sees. She suggests that Jess try out for the girl’s football team that she plays on. Jess tries out, Joe likes what he sees and gives her a spot on the team.
Since Jess knows her parents wouldn’t approve of her playing, she keeps it a secret from them. She even goes so far as to pretend that she got a job. That way she can get away from home to attend practices and games, without anyone being suspicious. Jess absolutely loves playing and is very good at it; she and Jules make a great team out on the field. So good in fact that Joe thinks it’s worthwhile to have a scout from America come over to see them play. Jules and Jess end up spending a lot of time together and become friends.
Since things are going so well, that means something has to go wrong. First off you have two young woman and one gorgeous football coach (it is Jonathan after all). You just know that’s asking for trouble. On top of that Jess’s parents find out about her deception and things go downhill from there.
First off, I should say, I know absolutely nothing about football and am not into sports at all. Yes, I admit it, I bought this purely because Jonathan Rhys Meyers was in it. However, I really enjoyed the movie. To me the sports aspect was secondary; the real heart of the movie was about growing up and following your dreams.
I also liked having a peek into another culture. Since Jess’s family is portrayed as an extremely traditional Indian family, it gave me a look into another world that I was not familiar with. I realize not all Indian families are the same, but I still enjoyed seeing the customs, rituals and traditions that this family followed.
All of the actors were good, particularly the three leads; Parminder, Keira (who was only 16 at the time) and Jonathan. They all had great chemistry with each other and did a fantastic job of portraying the emotions of the film. It was also fun to see Jonathan play such a “normal” guy. He usually plays roles that are much more angsty and unique (plus – yeah! they let him use his Irish accent).
I particularly liked the scene between Jess and Joe when she is embarrassed to wear shorts because of the scarring on her leg. She tells him the story of what happened to her. He shows her the nasty scars he has on his knee from surgeries he had. It’s a lovely scene. He is so sweet to her and makes her feel better about it.
By the way, her scars and the story about how she got them are real. When Parminder found out that she would have to wear shorts in the movie, she told them about the scars and they decided to write it into the movie.
Some of my favorite quotes:
Joe – “See, they made me start at the bottom. You can’t get much lower than her.”
Paula – “Allen, when are you gonna realize you have a daughter, with breasts, not a son?”
Jess – “Look, I’ve been playing football for a women’s team.”
Pinky – “Huh? It’s worse than I thought.”
Joe – “Jess, is everything all right?”
Jess – “Yes, Coach.”
Joe – “Training not getting the way of your cozy little conversation?”
Jules – “Sometimes I wish I could find a bloke just like him though. You know, that wasn’t off limits.”
Pinky – “They saw you today at a bus stop kissing him! Why couldn’t you do it in secret like everyone else?”
Joe – “I can see what you’re up against. But your parents don’t always know what’s best for you, Jess.”
Jess – “That was so brilliant the way you came to my house. You were brave enough to face my mum.”
Pinky – “But do you really wanna be the one that everyone stares at, at every family do ‘cause you’ve married the English bloke?”
Jess – “He’s Irish.”
Pinky – “Yeah, well, they’re all the bloody same to them, innit?”
Tony – “Look, Jessie. You can’t plan who you fall for. It just happens.”
Tony – “Well, you fancying your goreh coach is okay with me. Besides he’s quite fit.”
During the credits there is footage of the cast and crew singing along to the “Hot, Hot, Hot” song, outtakes and just general silliness.
Jan
Following is additional information about the show that contains spoilers. If you don’t want to be spoiled don’t read any further.
Towards the end of the movie, I really liked how they kept cutting back and forth between the wedding and the soccer game. It helped build the tension of whether or not Jess would make it there in time to play.
What is wrong with Jules mother? I couldn’t believe she would barge into the wedding like that and accuse Jess of being a lesbian. First off, how rude to interrupt someone’s celebration like that. Secondly, who cares if she was a lesbian? I really did not like Jule’s mother.
How could you not love Tony when he asks Jess’s parent’s for their permission to marry, but on the condition that Jess can go to university anywhere she wants first. It was so sweet of him to want to help her make her dreams come true, even at his own expense.
I adored the scene at the end when Joe is playing cricket with Jess’s father. It was such fun.
